2024 noticed the return of Ligue 1 soccer to the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps. Christophe Pélissier’s AJ Auxerre gained Ligue 2 final season and have impressed on their return to France’s prime flight. Central to this success has been Gaëtan Perrin.
The Lyon-born proper winger joined Auxerre in 2021, and over the past two seasons although have seen Perrin change into the heartbeat of AJA’s assault. His workrate, tenacity and aptitude have enabled him to flourish in AJA’s varied tactical setups in Ligue 2 and now in Ligue 1.
The 23/24 season ended with Perrin being celebrated within the Workforce of the Yr 2023–24, with seven targets and 10 assists. In Ligue 2, Auxerre repeatedly dominated possession, averaging 57.2% per recreation – the second highest within the league. Perrin was on the coronary heart of likelihood creation, creating essentially the most massive possibilities within the league over the course of the season. Satirically, his goal-scoring kind in 2024 took till a return to Ligue 1 to reach.
He failed to attain in Ligue 2 after December 2023. Nonetheless, his significance to AJA’s success by no means waned. Auxerre solely misplaced three video games in Ligue 2 in 2024 – two of which Perrin didn’t begin. After successive losses to US Quevilly-Rouen and Rodez AF in April, Perrin began all 5 of AJA’s remaining fixtures as they cruised to the Ligue 2 title.
The summer time introduced a big set-back for Auxerre with the shock return of their shining star Gaulthier Hein – the UNFP Ligue 2 Participant of the Yr 2023–24 – to Ligue 2’s Metz. AJA responded with the signing of Hamed Traorè, on mortgage from AFC Bournemouth.
9 aim contributions already for Perrin
The massive query was whether or not Perrin and Troarè may kind a relationship with an output like that of Perrin and Hein – solely this time, in Ligue 1. It’s a query that the pair have resoundingly answered. Perrin embraced his new-found duty and is having a formidable return to Ligue 1 soccer, with 5 targets and 4 assists to date this season. In Ligue 1, Christophe Pélissier is organising AJA to play a extra counter-attacking model of soccer than they performed in Ligue 2, particularly in away fixtures.
Perrin embodies his AJA group. In a set-up that prioritises tenacity and clinicality, Perrin has served up some moments of magic. He’s not like most trendy wingers. His recreation will not be about his explosivity in assault, neither is it about trickery and showmanship. Nicknamed ‘Le Combattant’, Perrin is a participant getting into the prime of his profession in a group that has introduced pleasure again to Les Ajaistes.
| Ed Marsh